The peculiar dream of Mr. Samuel Whiskers, upon the subject of Dutch cheese

Potter rendered the scene in delicate watercolour with fine ink lines, characteristic of her illustrative method. Her attention to anatomical detail—particularly the rat’s posture and fur—demonstrates her scientific training and keen eye for natural forms. The soft washes and restrained palette create a dreamy, intimate atmosphere, balancing realism with gentle fantasy.

The watercolour is inscribed on the reverse with Potter’s note identifying it as studies of her pet rat, Sammy, drawn from life. Sammy served as the model for Samuel Whiskers, the rogue rat in her 1908 book. Though undated, the work likely dates to the early 1900s, contemporaneous with the book’s creation and her active period of illustration for Frederick Warne & Co.

During this period, Potter was refining her approach to animal illustration, blending naturalism with narrative charm. Her pets—especially Sammy—were central to her creative process, offering both subject matter and emotional resonance. The Dutch cheese motif may reflect her interest in European food culture, possibly influenced by her travels or family connections to the region.

Though not published in a book, this watercolour remains a key example of Potter’s private artistic practice and her deep engagement with her animals. It reveals the quiet, observational roots of her published tales and underscores how personal experience shaped her enduring portrayals of small creatures in domestic, imaginative worlds.